1 Krypton at 8 o'clock | A NPC deputy calls for the abolition of the 35 - year - old employment threshold; DJI no longer mandates starting work at 9 a.m. but starts to enforce leaving work at 9 p.m.; Haidilao responds to the police notice: strongly condemns the behavior without any sense of public morality.
Going public in progress
Chifeng Gold
36Kr learned that Chifeng Gold (600988) announced in the evening of March 9 that, with the approval of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, 206 million H shares issued by the company (before the exercise of the over - allotment option) will be listed and traded on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on March 10, 2025. The Chinese short - name of the company's H shares is "Chifeng Huangjin", and the share code is "6693".
Top 3 Big News
NPC Deputies Call for Abolishing the 35 - year - old Age Limit and Incorporating Anti - employment Discrimination
According to CCTV reports, Zheng Gongcheng, a deputy to the National People's Congress and a professor at Renmin University of China, found in his research that age discrimination in the job market is widespread. In particular, the 35 - year - old age limit for employment seriously affects the employment of young people, leading to a waste of human resources and structural employment contradictions. He suggested, "We should abolish the 35 - year - old age limit and create a job market free from age discrimination. Amend relevant laws, incorporate anti - discrimination provisions into them, and provide clear legal regulations." (CCTV News)
DJI No Longer Mandates 9 a.m. Start, Now Mandates 9 p.m. End
According to Economic Observer, on March 8th, DJI began to enforce a 9 p.m. off - work time for employees. Previously, there were reports on social media that DJI had adjusted its attendance system, requiring employees to start work at 9 a.m. DJI responded that the claim of "mandatory 9 a.m. start" was a rumor. Now, DJI no longer mandates a 9 a.m. start but has started to enforce a 9 p.m. end. Previously, DJI was a technology company labeled as "extremely competitive" and "with severe overtime". There are mainly three types of people on social platforms who can testify to its overtime culture: one type are employees who take photos of the well - lit cubicles in DJI's Shenzhen headquarters, Sky City, late at night and caption them with "Just got off work"; another type are former employees in the job - leaving circle who admit that they couldn't bear the physical strain and decided to leave; the third type are DJI employees' family members who "complain" that it's normal for their loved ones to get off work at one or two in the morning and that they only get to see each other on weekends before the employees have to continue working overtime. (Economic Observer)
Haidilao Responds to Police Report: Strongly Condemns Behavior without Public Morality
36Kr learned that on March 8th, in response to the police report that someone urinated into a Haidilao hot pot, Haidilao responded: "We appreciate the police for quickly and efficiently clarifying the case and creating a good business environment for the enterprise. We strongly condemn such behavior that lacks public morality and violates the law. Regarding those who spread maliciously, our company reserves the right to pursue legal liability. Given that the perpetrator is a minor, we call on everyone to avoid inappropriate dissemination or attacks on the individual and their family, and give them an opportunity to learn from the lesson and grow. Haidilao always prioritizes food safety and customer experience. Currently, the involved store has replaced all the pots and tableware (including chopsticks) in the store, and the environmental hygiene has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. In the future, the service mode for private rooms will also be improved. In addition, consumers can learn about the store's kitchen work through the store's open kitchen and kitchen visits. Please rest assured, dear consumers!"
Large Companies/ Major Events
Manus' Official X Account Unfrozen
On March 8th, the official account of Chinese AI agent enterprise ManusAI has been restored. "We're back. Just a reminder, this is our only official account. We'll continue to share cool use cases. Stay tuned," the official account of ManusAI (ManusAI_HQ) stated. Ji Yichao, the Chief Scientist and Co-founder of Manus, also announced this news immediately and reiterated, "Manus has never been involved in any cryptocurrency projects, token issuances, blockchain initial offerings, etc. Any claim that a virtual currency with a similar name is related to us is false." (21st Century Business Herald)
Wendu Education Once Claimed 22.73 Million from He Kaiwen
Recently, He Kaiwen, a well - known teacher for the postgraduate entrance examination English, scored 89 in the English test, which has sparked a heated discussion as he was suspected of fabricating his scores and having his videos edited. On March 7th, Wendu Education issued a statement regarding the controversy over He Kaiwen's postgraduate entrance examination scores, stating that he is not a full - time teacher and would suspend all cooperation with Mr. He, including teaching and lectures.
According to the Qichacha APP, He Kaiwen (formerly known as He Xie) is associated with 7 enterprises, 4 of which are in operation. Among them, Beijing Xinwendao Education Technology Group Co., Ltd., in which he holds a 2% stake, has been restricted from high - end consumption and listed as a dishonest executor (a "deadbeat"). Currently, He Xie is associated with multiple judicial case information, with causes including limited partnership disputes and copyright contract disputes, and he is mostly the defendant.
It is worth mentioning that Century Wendu Education Technology Group Co., Ltd. once sued He Xie and Shanghai Daxing Education Technology Center (which has been deregistered), in which he held 100% of the shares, due to a copyright contract dispute. According to the first - instance ruling, Wendu Education demanded that He Xie and others compensate for economic losses of 22.737 million yuan. The content shows that the three parties, the plaintiff and the defendants, once signed a "Manuscript Commission Contract" to publish works such as "The Complete Book of Breakthroughs in Essential Vocabulary for the Postgraduate Entrance Examination English" in book form. On December 30, 2020, the defendant He Xie (publicity name: He Kaiwen) joined Beijing Xinwendao Education Technology Group Co., Ltd. and served as the exclusive teacher for postgraduate entrance examination English. In March 2021, the plaintiff found that the defendant He Xie had published multiple books respectively. After technical comparison, the above - mentioned books were highly similar to several sets of books published by the defendant He Xie under the plaintiff Wendu Company. The above - mentioned actions of the defendant He Xie violated the provisions of Article 7 of the "Manuscript Commission Contract" signed by the three parties and should bear the liability for breach of contract. The case progress shows that this case has been transferred to the People's Court of Xuhui District, Shanghai. (Shanhai Video)
Lei Jun on Xiaomi Cars' Order Backlog of Over Half a Year: Overseas Layout Exploration Begins, First Solve Domestic Production Expansion Issue
Lei Jun, a deputy to the National People's Congress, said, "Currently, we are exploring markets and policies around the world globally and preparing to go global at an appropriate time. The primary focus is to solve the problem of the 6 - 7 - month order backlog in the domestic market and figure out how to expand production." Regarding the fact that 10,000 units of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra were sold in three days, Lei Jun stated that this indicates that domestic brands are gaining increasing acceptance. (CCTV.com)
He Xiaopeng, Chairman of XPeng Motors: Applause for the "Six Little Dragons of Hangzhou", and the "classmates" in Guangdong are also eager to take action
On March 9th, He Xiaopeng, a deputy to the National People's Congress and the chairman of XPeng Motors, said in an interview with the media that he applauded the "Six Little Dragons of Hangzhou", and the "classmates" in Guangdong were also eager to take action. He Xiaopeng said that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has the most complete intelligent hardware supply chain system in China. The robot enterprises in Guangdong have developed from the "Seven Swordsmen" to an ecological matrix of "Seventy Swordsmen", and have significant competitiveness in terms of talent reserves and technology conversion efficiency. (Securities Times)
Dong Mingzhu Responds to the Renaming of Exclusive Stores to "Dong Mingzhu's Healthy Home"
Recently, GREE exclusive stores in many places have been renamed "Dong Mingzhu's Healthy Home", which has attracted attention. Recently, Dong Mingzhu, a deputy to the National People's Congress and the chairperson and president of Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai, responded that the reason for the renaming is to convert "trust traffic" into "quality recognition" in the way of guaranteeing with personal reputation, so as to achieve the strategic upgrade from product manufacturing to health services and build a more stable emotional connection with consumers. (China News Service)
"Ne Zha: Rebirth of the Demon Child" Enters the Top 6 on the Global Box Office List
According to data from Dengta Professional Edition, the global box office (including pre - sales and overseas) of "Ne Zha: Rebirth of the Demon Child" has exceeded that of "Avengers: Infinity War" and entered the top 6 on the global box office list. (Business Express)
Chinese hospitals start to set up weight clinics
Lei Haichao, director of the National Health Commission: Regarding the prevention and control of chronic diseases and weight management, we should focus on combining prevention and treatment and provide personalized services. Some people have a too large waist circumference, are overweight, and some even suffer from chronic diseases... This requires the help of professional doctors and professional medical institutions. We guide medical and health institutions to set up weight clinics to provide a good professional consultation environment and platform for residents troubled by weight problems. I believe that with everyone's own efforts and the help of professional institutional staff, people can better manage their weight and live a healthy life. (CCTV News)
Old residential communities built before 2000 will be included in urban renewal and renovation
On March 9, Ni Hong, the Minister of Housing and Urban - Rural Development, stated at a press conference on people's livelihood themes during the Third Session of the 14th National People's Congress that efforts will be made to implement a number of urban renewal projects that benefit people's livelihoods, promote development, and prevent risks. In terms of people's livelihood, all old urban residential communities built before 2000 will be included in the scope of urban renewal and renovation, and renovations will be carried out according to local conditions. Local governments are encouraged to explore the self - renovation of old residential buildings by residents. The scope of the renovation of urban villages has now been expanded to all prefecture - level and above cities across the country, and the scope of renovation will continue to be expanded in the next step. Efforts will be made to promote the construction of complete communities, focusing on the needs of the elderly and children, and improving the construction of barrier - free and age - friendly supporting facilities, government - run childcare service facilities, and children's activity venues. (China News Service)
New Rule for Room Cancellations in Sanya: Full Refund without Reason if Conditions are Met
According to a report by CCTV News, on March 8th, reporters learned from the Sanya Tourism Industry Association Federation that the "Guidelines for Room Reservation and Cancellation in the Accommodation Industry of Sanya (Trial)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines") was released on the same day. It stipulates that during non - statutory holidays, accommodation providers and online booking platforms should follow the rule that customers can get a full refund without reason if they cancel their room reservations more than 7 days before check - in. During statutory holidays (New Year's Day, Spring Festival, Tomb - Sweeping Festival, Labor Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid - Autumn Festival, and National Day), accommodation providers and online booking platforms should follow the rule that customers can get a full refund without reason if they cancel their room reservations more than 15 days before check - in.
The "Guidelines" will be implemented on a trial basis starting from March 8th, 2025, for a trial period of one year. They apply to room reservation, cancellation, and related service activities in the accommodation industry within the administrative region of Sanya. They only apply to direct individual customer orders generated through online booking platforms and do not include group orders, offline phone - booked orders, or orders booked through travel agencies. (CCTV News)
National Bureau of Statistics: The consumer price index dropped 0.7% year-on-year in February 2025
36Kr learned that the National Bureau of Statistics released data showing that in February 2025, the national consumer price index dropped 0.7% year-on-year. Among them, the price index in urban areas dropped 0.7%, and that in rural areas also dropped 0.7%; food prices dropped 3.3%, and non-food prices dropped 0.1%; consumer goods prices dropped 0.9%, and service prices dropped 0.4%. On average from January to February, the national consumer price index dropped 0.1% compared with the same period of the previous year. In February, the national consumer price index dropped 0.2% month-on-month. Among them, the price index in urban areas dropped 0.2%, and that in rural areas dropped 0.1%; food prices dropped 0.5%, and non-food prices dropped 0.1%; consumer goods prices remained flat, and service prices dropped 0.5%.
Chairman of Yonghui Superstores: The average income of employees in renovated stores has increased by over 30%
Recently, Zhang Xuansong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the chairman of Yonghui Superstores Co., Ltd., said that in the 41 renovated stores that opened last year, each store created no less than 100 new jobs. The average income of each employee increased by over 30%, and at the same time, an eight - hour workday for employees was ensured. The income of employees who pass skill certifications will be further increased, and in the future, a large number of skilled employees and talents will be cultivated. (The Paper)
Report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate: 825 people were prosecuted for securities-related crimes such as financial fraud and insider trading in 2024
Ying Yong, Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said when presenting the work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate on March 8 that in 2024, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, together with the National Financial Regulatory Administration, improved the law enforcement and judicial cooperation mechanism, and jointly carried out a special campaign to combat illegal fund-raising. A total of 25,000 people were prosecuted for financial fraud and crimes disrupting the financial management order. Prosecutors in Guangdong, Beijing and other places were guided to review and prosecute 42 people in the "Evergrande Group" case and 49 people in the "Zhongzhi Group" case. Together with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and other departments, a work opinion on handling securities and futures illegal and criminal cases was formulated. Participation in the rectification of prominent risks and hidden dangers in the private equity fund field led to the prosecution of 825 people for securities-related crimes such as financial fraud and insider trading. A total of 3,032 people were prosecuted for money laundering crimes such as using "virtual currency" to transfer criminal proceeds. (Xinhua News Agency)
US President Trump: Some tariffs may be raised after April 2
On the 9th local time, US President Trump said in an interview that some tariffs may be raised after April 2 as time goes by. In addition, Trump downplayed the recent sharp fluctuations in the stock market caused by his imposition and adjustment of tariffs during the interview. He said that one should not pay too much attention to the stock market. (CCTV News)
Japanese Service Robot Market Expected to Triple in Size within Five Years
It is reported that in the face of the problems of an aging population and labor shortages, Japanese companies are increasingly relying on service robots to supplement their workforce. Research firm Fuji Keizai predicts that by 2030, the size of Japan's service robot market will nearly triple, reaching 400 billion yen (US$2.7 billion). The potential factors driving this growth are as follows: Recruit Works Institute expects that by 2040, Japan will face a labor shortage of 11 million; and a government-backed agency estimates that by 2065, nearly 40% of Japan's population will be 65 years old or older. (Sina Finance)
The new proposal from the U.S. Department of Justice still requires Google to divest the Chrome browser but allows it to make artificial intelligence investments
According to a court document filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday, the department still requires Google to sell its web browser, Chrome. The U.S. Department of Justice first proposed that Google sell Chrome last year when Joe Biden was the president. However, during Donald Trump's second term in office, the department still seems to adhere to this plan. Nevertheless, the department no longer requires Google to divest all its investments in the field of artificial intelligence, including the billions of dollars Google has invested in the artificial intelligence company Anthropic. (Sina Finance)
All three major U.S. stock indexes closed higher, and most popular Chinese concept stocks rose
36Kr learned that at the close on March 7th, all three major U.S. stock indexes rose. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.52%, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.7%, and the S&P 500 Index rose 0.55%. Most large technology stocks fell. Netflix fell more than 1%, Microsoft fell 0.9%, Amazon fell 0.72%, Meta fell 0.36%, and Tesla fell 0.3%. NVIDIA and Apple rose more than 1%, and Google rose 0.88%. Most popular Chinese concept stocks rose. Bilibili rose more than 8%, XPeng Motors rose more than 6%, NIO and Li Auto rose more than 5%, 36Kr and Pony.ai rose more than 2%, and iQiyi, New Oriental, and Zhihu rose more than 1%.
Tesla's Golden Driverless Taxi Debuts at the Texas Gigafactory
36Kr learned that Tesla CEO Elon Musk reposted a post about Tesla's driverless taxi (Cybercab) on social platform X on March 9. The post mentioned, "A Tesla Cybercab was autonomously cruising near the Texas Gigafactory today. I can't wait for the day when these cars are everywhere on public roads." The video shows a golden Tesla Cybercab, which, according to the blogger, is a two - seater.
TSMC Launches Campus Recruitment, Aims to Hire 8,000 in Taiwan This Year
On March 8th, TSMC launched its campus recruitment campaign. It is expected to recruit approximately 8,000 new employees, including engineers and technicians, in Taiwan in 2025. The average annual salary for newly recruited engineers with a master's degree reaches NT$2.2 million. The work locations include Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung and other places. (Stock Selection Connect)
The Cutting - Edge of AI
Manus Founder Talks about DeepSeek: The Most Laid - back but Achieving the Best Results
On March 3rd, long before Manus became a sensation, an audio recording of a three - hour interview with Xiao Hong had been circulating among the alumni of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. In the interview, Xiao Hong mentioned that DeepSeek "is the most laid - back but achieves the best results." "The most important thing I've learned from DeepSeek is to always follow your own rhythm and be yourself. They've brought spiritual encouragement to everyone. For example, in terms of open - sourcing, they've been doing it since they weren't well - known. They're just doing things at their own pace." Xiao Hong also gave college students a "little tip" - when you're in college, you can invite the outstanding students around you to dinner more often. "I remember there was a Northeast cuisine restaurant near our school. In college, I earned enough money to invite my clubmates to that restaurant every day. Several of our co - founders thought 'this guy is really amazing' because I invited them to dinner every day back then." (Yangtze River Daily)
Investment and Financing
Yuntong Shuda Completes 50 Million Yuan Series A Financing
36Kr learned that Yuntong Shuda announced it has completed a 50 million yuan Series A financing. This round of financing was led by Puhua Capital, followed by investors such as the Data Security Fund and Huadan Capital, and old shareholders like Meiri Hudong continued to increase their investment. The financing will be mainly used for core technology R & D, global promotion of the Digital and Intelligent Green Wave system, in - depth governance of traffic data, and expansion of intelligent connected vehicle scenarios, further enhancing the company's innovation ability in the field of intelligent transportation. As of now, the Digital and Intelligent Green Wave system has been applied in nearly 30 regions including Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Taiyuan, Tianjin, and Baoding. More than 600 digital and intelligent green wave belts have been built, with a total green wave length of over 1000 kilometers. The road traffic efficiency has been improved by at least 20%, saving citizens 15 - 20 minutes of commuting time every day.
Cool Products
The new personalized Siri is expected to be launched next year and has been integrated with ChatGPT
According to Kuaikeji, Apple originally planned to launch a more personalized Siri in iOS 18.4. However, according to the latest news, the official launch time of this feature has not been determined yet. Apple officially confirmed recently that the update of the new personalized Siri will be launched later than expected and is planned to be launched "within next year", but no exact schedule was provided. Apple spokesperson Jacqueline Roy said in a statement: "In the past six months, we have made Siri more conversational, added features such as typing to Siri and product knowledge, and integrated it with ChatGPT. However, the development of the more personalized Siri is more complex than expected, so it is expected to be launched next year."
It is reported that the new generation of Siri can access users' personal data, such as emails, messages, files, and photos, to better understand users' needs and help complete tasks. People familiar with the matter revealed that Apple originally planned to launch these features in May, but faced engineering problems and software bugs during the development process, resulting in a delay in the progress. (Kuaikeji)
Compiled | Da'an